Changes at the top of Florida's historically black colleges

It's a time of new leadership.

Former Jacksonville sheriff Nat Glover recently completed his first full year as the 29th president of Edward Waters College, a job he took on an interim basis in 2010 before it was made permanent in February 2011. Glover, a Waters graduate, helped stabilize the institution’s finances. In Glover, the school has a champion well connected in Jacksonville and able to woo donations from business leaders. He also has a plan to build enrollment at Waters, which had financial troubles and difficulty getting reaccredited several years ago. Glover also wants to add majors and new buildings.

Nat Glover [Photo: Kelly Jordan/The Florida Times-Union]

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Florida A&M University, Tallahassee

James Ammons [Photo: Pil Coale/AP Photo]

Florida A&M University, the state’s only public historically black college, still is dealing with the aftermath of the beating death of drum major Robert Champion, 26, who died Nov. 19 at the hands of fellow band members during an apparent hazing. In early May, 13 people were charged in Champion’s death and more than 20 counts of misdemeanor hazing were also filed for other victims who were not seriously injured. FAMU President James Ammons suspended the famous Marching 100. Beyond the high-profile incident and systemic hazing troubles with the band, Ammons for the most part has righted FAMU’s financial ship. The university had chronic problems with financial mismanagement that Ammons was brought in to mend.